The enthusiasm of runners is awesome! No matter your distance of choice: 1 mile, 5K, 10K, half marathon or full marathon, you will benefit from an endorphin rush and reap the rewards of a healthy lifestyle. With any sport, there are risks of musculoskeletal issues, fortunately seeing a chiropractor will keep you safe and improve your running experience. Check out these benefits:
Improved Hip and Pelvic Alignment
Feeling tight and achy? Do your muscles feel knotted up? Tension and wear and tear builds up overtime and can create an imbalance in the hips and spine. This misalignment causes a compensation in running gait. At first you may not even notice, but your body will send you cues -aches, pains and even fatigue during your distance runs. This means other muscles try to pick up the slack, changing your form. The result? Your body will try to run with a strained posture. However, it’s not sustainable long term. How can your chiropractor help you? Chiropractors treat your specific area of pain but also take into account your full spinal posture. Chiropractors apply targeted movements with our hands, called adjustments, to improve motion of the spine, eliminating these restrictions and correcting any misalignments of your pelvis, hips and spine. With proper spinal alignment you run at your full potential and decrease your risk for chronic injuries which can take you out of a running season.
We Got Your Back, Knees and Ankles Too!
Range of motion is vitally important. Having stiff, inflexible joints, especially in the lower body, can prevent runners from setting new PRs (personal records) and from running with proper form. The American Chiropractic Association states that knee pain is the most common running injury. It’s a misconception that a chiropractor only treats necks and backs. An extremity adjustment is a gentle manipulation that realigns and restores proper movement in joints that are not part of the spine. Any joint can benefit from adjustments, including ribs, shoulders, elbows, wrists, hips, knees, ankles, feet, fingers, toes, and even your jaw. Getting evaluated by a chiropractor is the best way to determine which of your extremities will benefit from hands-on work. This, in turn, relieves joint stress, reduces inflammation, and facilitates healing. When combined with corrective exercises, chiropractic treatment for knee pain has been proven highly effective.
Preventing Plantar Fasciitis, Shin Splints and IT Band Syndrome
What is the posterior chain? Simply put it refers to all of the muscles on the backside of the body from the base of the skull all the way to your heels. Runners are particularly susceptible to posterior chain weakness or lower cross syndrome. Regular chiropractic care focuses on individual function effectively eliminating muscle imbalances that over time will increase wear and tear on joints. Chiropractors can help catch injuries before they happen and get runners back on track with their performance goals.
Interested in chiropractic care?
Come by The Joint in North Ann Arbor! 734-396-4987
